5 Reasons to Use Organic Coconut Oil This Summer

By now most of us know that we can slather coconut oil onto our skin as a moisturizer or into our frying pans for cooking. But there are tons of other ways to use that jar of organic coconut oil on your counter. And more importantly, there’s actually a lot of data behind why organic coconut oil is so amazing—from its moisturizing properties to its healthy fat content to its antioxidant boosting qualities and beyond.

Allow me to explain… First off, it’s organic. Why should we care about our coconut oil being organic? Because then we know it’s free of harmful chemicals, which is important both for when we eat coconut oil and when we use it on our bodies. Now on to the extra-virgin part: This simply means that the coconut oil is unrefined. This, along with the brand’s centrifuge process, which quickly separates the coconut oil from the coconut milk emulsion, helps the oil retain all of its nutrients and lauric acid, which has antiviral properties and beneficial metabolic effects. In other words, you get to keep the good without any of the bad!

So now on to the 5 reasons you’ll want a jar of organic coconut oil at your side all summer long:

1. It can help ease your sunburn naturally! We’ve all been there: We thought we applied enough nontoxic sunscreen to get us through the day, but—oops!—we missed a spot. And now we’re suffering through a burn. Not only can organic coconut oil help soothe, moisturize, and cool your sunburned skin, but it’s also rumored to actually help your burned skin heal faster.

It’s super easy to create a DIY organic aftersun/sunburn salve to throw in your bag before heading to the beach.

2.It can help keep your legs looking amazing! Not only can you use organic coconut as a safe and chemical-free, moisturizing shave cream, but you can also prep your legs pre-shave by making a coconut oil sugar scrub. Bonus: It smells pretty amazing.

3. It can organically keep your armpits fresh! That’s right! You can make your own natural deodorant using organic coconut oil that will keep you fresh all summer without the harmful effects of the aluminum in antiperspirants (which has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease).

4. It can safely keep your makeup brushes clean. Skip the toxic makeup-brush cleaners and make your own by simply melting Jax Organic Coconut Oil into a glass jar and dipping each of your brushes into the oil. After each brush has been soaked in the coconut oil, rub the oil and makeup residue off onto a reusable organic cloth wipe then wash off the remaining oil with warm water. If you’re having difficulty removing all the coconut oil from the brushes, use a tiny bit of organic castile soap in the warm water. Finally, lay your brushes flat and wait until they’re completely dry to use them.

5. It can naturally deep-condition your hair. Before and after you jump into the salty waves this summer, wet your hair with fresh water and comb a dollop of Jax Organic Coconut Oil into it, spreading it throughout, then throw your locks into a loose bun and cover with a shower cap. Leave the coconut oil in for several hours before washing it out with a gentle shampoo. Enjoy your soft, delicious tresses from the beach to the boardwalk!

Have a sunny, organic coconut oil–filled summer!

Maria Luci is the manager and editor at Maria’s Farm Country Kitchen and content creator and editor at Rodale’s. She grew up in Virginia, but now lives in Philly with her husband, a black cat, and a good deal of houseplants.

3 Responses to 5 Reasons to Use Organic Coconut Oil This Summer

Thank you, Maria, you are always full of good ideas! You must be a very creative person to have so many good ideas to share. If I could make a request, someday maybe you could give us some tips on how to keep our indoor houseplants healthy and blooming?? I have lots of them, but the majority are those kind that take the formaldehyde out of the air. The astronaughts take them up to space with them to help reduce the formaldehyde in their small space. (My ongoing ‘senior moments’ are getting more frequent, and right now I can’t for the life of me remember the name of the plant, but if it comes to me in the middle of the night – I’ll write it down and let you know later!) Really appreciate all your information. Thanks again.

Hey Maria Luci, I didn’t have to wait until the middle of the night, as I was putting a load of clothes in the washing machine – it came to me…well, almost! I think the name of the plant I love and have gobs of is: the Peace plant or maybe the Peace Lily. Not sure which but that’s very close. Maybe you know the one I mean, hope so anyway. Thanks again.

Thanks, Alice! You’re too kind. My husband is actually the one with the green thumb in our house, so he keeps our houseplants going. We have a bunch of succulents, so they actually don’t require that much maintenance. But I’m sure Rodale’s Organic Life has some good tips for you: http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/search/houseplant 🙂

Drawing on findings from leading health researchers as well as conversations with both chemical and organic farmers from coast to coast, Maria Rodale irrefutably outlines the unacceptably high cost of chemical farming on our health and our environment.

About Maria

By day I’m chairman and CEO of one of the largest independent publishers left in America. By night I’m simply M.O.M. (which stands for Mean Old Mom). I’m a writer, cook, organic enthusiast, romance novel lover, and major music fan who does yoga.Read more